Even after layoffs proposed in the city manager’s new budget, Evanston will still have nearly half again as many city workers per capita as the average for suburban Cook County.
A study prepared by the Civic Federation of Chicago shows that, on average, for each 1,000 residents, suburban Cook County municipalities have 6.88 workers and park districts have 0.93 workers, for a combined total of 7.81 workers.
The City of Evanston, which provides park services often run by separate districts in other communities, would have 11.67 workers per capita after the layoffs –Â 49.4 percent more than the average.
In all, the city would have 878 workers for its 75,236 residents.
The Civic Federation study does not break out workers by department, but a comparison with nearby communities suggests that Evanston has subtantiallly more police officers per capita than most suburbs.
The extra police account for perhaps 50 extra city employees. But overall the city has nearly 300 more workers than would be expected based on its population.
The city’s library, another service often provided by a special district in other municipalities, will have 66.69 employees under the new budget. The Civic Federation study does not provide sufficient detail about library districts to calculate their average staffing levels.
City of Evanston employee count
Bill – Ms Carroll (City Manager) has stated the process that is occurring with the budget will go on for several years.
It appears to me this year is only the beginning of the reduction in staffing levels.
We clearly have a large number of police officers here because we have a crime problem. If you factor in our crime rate with the other communities it will no doubt be much higher. My past analysis shows Evanston crime rate several times higher than other northern suburbs.
While Ms. Carroll is cutting she is also adding – a Youth coordinator, Sustainability employee and emergency management person – to me these clearly are not necessary positions!